Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-10-25
Letter from Harper's Ferry.
HAnrER's FERRY. w. Va, Oct. II. 1857.

HARPER's FERRY. w. VA, Oct. IL. 1887.
Dear Editor "A few words. probably. cir
culatcd through the colnmnso of your valuable
paper from our little town. will be interesting
10 those at home and sought after eagerly by
those who once lived here and are now living
abroad.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meet
ing u gentleman in Washington who was at
this place during tic war. and has since trav-
elcd around the world several times. and judg-
ing from bis conversation, that what he has
not seen in this world is not worth seeing.-
Speaking of his travels in different countries
and his experiences in foreign lands. &c, 1
finally put an intcrrogater to him as to what lie
thought of the scenery at Harper's Ferry /!
After taking two or three ong pulls IRON q hne
Havana, he proceeded to give me some points
about the beauties of Harper's aud the Shen-
andoah Valley as contrasted with foreign
scenery. He said that in all his travels he had
never come across any scenery. with bnt one
exception and that was in Switzerland. that
was equal to the scenery at this point. lie
said q trip from Harper's Ferry to Staunton on
the hind end of n train was equal to q trip
across the Atlantic in Thomas cfterson's time.
then it took from thirty to sixty days to cross,
now it can be easily done in six or seven days.
Taking a farewell puff ut bis Havana: he went
on in a rapid pace, describing our beautiful
scenery III such flowing language. that my
| pencil would dare not attempt to repeat yer
! batim his beautiful and grand description of
| this romantic spot. 1t would be impossible for
any ono to cxnggcrate, when speaking of our
| scenery. For one to stand on the edge of
Camp Hill and view the placid waters of the
PotOinas as they unite with the Shenandoah.
and then cast an eye skyward to Maryland and
Virginia Heights and view the beautiful cover
of autumn leaves as they blend their colors SO
perfectly. Starting from the tops of the noun
tains the deep colors commence and work their
way downward blending into the green leaves
that have not as yet fallen q victim to the jack
frost and his companion the autumn sun. Ma
turc is the ruling artist. and wherever the brush
of this perfect decorator touches. there Is a
stream of beauty left that dazzles the eyes and
causes jealousy to arise among those who have
tried for years to counterfeit what nature &C
composites with ease in o little while.
Perhaps there will be few that will search
through their by-gone recOllcctions and find
ont what took place in our town % years ago
to-day. 1t was the event of the capture of
John Brown and his followers at early dawn,
and who II month or SO later suffered 1.-THE
punishment that fit the crime"
The work on the Shenandoah river side for
the erection of pulp mills. il progressing rapid
~. An additional force of one hundred men
have been put on. The old ruins in the arm0ry
yard are being torn down. and the brick are to
be used in the construction of the mills.
Society has not recuperatcd from its long
summer vacation. The different clubs have
not rs yet organized or fixed any definite pro-
gram for the winter uInuscments, but from
what your correspondent could gather from
the prominent leaders of these clubs and So
ciety. the winter will be u bright ono with
plenty of amuSements of various kinds. fol-
! Ip"Si III III HP NIX L hllu ohu ~ - SOuIAS
of weddings.
Mr.. Charles Cavalier. our young enterprising
merchant of Bolivar. has been confined to his
bed with the rheumatism for the past few
weeks. but now, as we arc glad to learn, he is
convalcsccnt.
Quite a number of couples have taken ad-
vantage of the past few beautiful autumn days
and visited the surrounding mountains, gather
ing autumn leaves and ferns.
The Maryland mountains have been on fire
several days. and affords a beautiful sight for
the star gazcrs at night.
Mr.. William RennGr, accompanied by his
wife. is visiting his father at this place. Mr..
Willie is the telegraph operator and general
agent at the famous Grecnbricr White Sulphur
Springs. w. Va. for the G. & o. r. h. They
will go from here to Washington and expect
to return about Nov. 18th to the While"
Mr.. Smeltzcr Kemp. of Knoxville. Md. is a
student in Mr.. Barry's private school on Camp
Hill.
The great B. & o. deal and its results docs
not seem to have much effect upon the railroad
circles Of this place. The officials here are
holding a stiff upper lip. while bidding n fare
well to Bobbic'' and his one hundred English
cut pairs of pants. and stand in readiness to
welcome anything that comes along big enough
to swallow the B. Sc o. without getting rcd in
the face. THERE.